Together, they form the No. 1 announcing team covering collegiate football.
Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson are starting their ninth season together at CBS Sports. They’ll team with sideline reporter Allie LaForce to cover Ohio State’s season opener against Navy on Aug. 30 at noon at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. LaForce, a native of Vermilion, previously worked at WJW-TV 8.
The game will be broadcast on cable television’s CBS Sports Network.
Lundquist, 74, said he’s always excited for this time of year.
“It’s a fresh start for everybody, including us,” he said in a telephone interview this week.
Danielson, a quarterback for the Browns in 1985, ‘87 and ‘88, has blossomed as a college football analyst.
“He’s terrific,” Lundquist said. “He’s as good an analyst as there is in pro or college. He’s not afraid to speak an opinion.”
Lundquist loves it when Danielson predicts an upcoming play.
“It’s a product of his preparation,” he said.
Of course, Danielson was the same way as an NFL quarterback in Cleveland and Detroit.
“Gary and I found something special,” Lundquist said.
Previously, Lundquist worked with Canton native Todd Blackledge, who left for ESPN.
Lundquist, who first joined CBS Sports in 1982, has never worked with a partner this long. The same goes for Danielson.
“The chemistry and timing kicks in,” Lundquist said. “You know when the other guy is going to finish his sentence.”
Lundquist said there will be much curiosity watching the Buckeyes without their starting quarterback. Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller is sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury.
“I suppose the general perception around country is that it’s a big loss,” he said. “Ohio State has other stellar athletes. (J.T.) Barrett is stepping into a tough situation.
“I know this, (Buckeyes coach) Urban (Meyer) and his staff know what they’re doing.”
Navy’s triple option offense can give opposing defenses fits. It certainly did the last time Ohio State faced the Midshipmen in 2009.
“Navy is smaller and slower,” Lundquist said. “It’s an offense that is difficult to prepare for. They almost beat Notre Dame last year, at Notre Dame.”
Lundquist said he didn’t broadcast the last meeting. However, the Midshipmen needed a 2-point conversion late in the game to tie the score. It was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
“Ohio State is obviously favored,” Lundquist said. “Navy has very good discipline. They run a certain style. It’s very popular among the military schools because of their size. They are just not that fast.
“It challenges a defense and it will challenge Ohio State. We talked to Urban. He said to forget about Michigan State later in the year. They are thinking about this game.”
Lundquist is anxious to see how the NCAA’s four-team playoff will work out.
“I don’t think (the changes are) over,” he said. “They’ll start with four teams. I can see them expanding on that and including six teams or maybe eight. ESPN has the rights to it longer than I’m going to work.”
Lundquist said he has a “couple years left.”
“It’s my call, and it’s (CBS Sports chairman Sean) McManus’ call,” he said. “I’d do it until I’m 85 if didn’t have to fly. I’m not afraid of flying. Flying is just so stressful these days.”
Lundquist also serves as a play-by-play announcer for the network’s coverage of NCAA basketball, and provides commentary for the Masters, the PGA Championship and other PGA Tour events.
He was inducted into the National Sportscaster and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in April 2007.
He has also worked for ABC Sports, TNT, and was the long-time radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys (1972-84).
Lundquist lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Nancy.Ready for some (prep) football?
SportsTime Ohio’s lineup for its high school football game of the week will start with Euclid traveling to Hudson on Friday, Aug. 29. The game will be on a tape-delay basis at 11:30 p.m.
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
--Sept. 5, Cleveland Heights at Strongsville, 11 p.m.
--Sept. 12, Willoughby South at Solon, 11 p.m.
--Sept. 19, Lakewood at Avon, 11:30 p.m.
--Sept. 26, Chagrin Falls at Kenston, 11:30 p.m.
--Oct. 3, Austintown-Fitch at Massillon, 11 p.m.
More games will be added to the schedule later in the season.World Cup coverage
ESPN networks will combine to carry every game of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain beginning Saturday, Aug. 30, and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 14.
ESPN and ESPN2 will televise 13 games, including every USA Basketball men’s national team game, as well as the semifinals, finals and select quarterfinal games.
International basketball expert Fran Fraschilla will provide analysis for all games on ESPN and ESPN2, while Kevin Connors and Marc Kestecher will rotate on play-by-play assignments.
Team USA’s opener vs. Finland will be broadcast on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.
Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving is a member of Team USA. More room
Even though the NBA said the recent injury by Indiana’s Paul George has no bearing on the changes, it is expanding the area behind the basket.
According to a story by the Associated Press, the league is cutting the number of photographers along the baseline in an effort to improve player safety.
The new regulations are calling for an extra foot of open space on both sides of the basket stanchion. NBA president of operations Rod Thorn and executive vice president of team marketing and business operations Amy Brooks sent a memo to teams this week.
Thorn says clearing the congestion behind the playing area was planned even before Gorge broke his right leg in USA Basketball exhibition game.
“The conversations about this topic preceded Paul’s injury by several years,” Thorn told the AP. “As a matter of fact, at our league meetings in July we informed our teams this was the direction we were going. But of course when an injury occurs like the one to Paul, it reaffirms the changes we have made and the need to continue to evaluate our policies.”
The “escape lanes,” the unoccupied area on either side of the stanchion to the closest photographer spot, will increase from 3 to 4 feet.
The league will allow just 10 camera positions on each baseline, down from 24 last season.

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About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@news-herald.com
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